← H3738 H3740 →

כָּרָה

𐤊𐤓𐤄

kârâh

H3739 verb

SILEX Entry

Root כרה to dig, excavate, prepare, obtain

Definition

To acquire or obtain through purchase, especially by means of a formal agreement or transaction. In some contexts, to procure or provide, with an emphasis on preparation or acquisition. The word generally conveys a deliberate act of obtaining something, typically goods or provisions, through negotiated exchange.

Semantic Range

to purchase, to buy, to acquire (through purchase), to prepare, to obtain, to provide

Root / Etymology

From the root כרה, which primarily means 'to dig' or 'to excavate.' The usage here is likely a secondary development from the idea of digging or preparing, extended metaphorically to preparing or acquiring through a deliberate act, such as purchase or provision.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, the use of כָּרָה with the sense of 'to purchase' appears in a small number of passages, generally where the acquisition is accomplished through an understood process of negotiation or arrangement rather than a simple transaction. For example, in Genesis 50:5, Jacob is said to have 'purchased' (כָּרָה) a burial site, highlighting the formal nature of the transaction. In other passages, such as Psalm 129:3, the verb shifts semantically to emphasize 'preparing' or 'procuring.' The dominant Hebrew verb for 'to buy,' קנה (qanah), is more common in general commercial contexts, whereas כָּרָה is reserved for special or formal preparation or purchase, especially where the act is significant or ceremonial. In post-biblical Hebrew, the primary root meaning 'to dig' predominates, and the sense of 'purchase' is largely lost. English translations often simplify כָּרָה as 'to buy' or 'to purchase,' but this may obscure the nuance of arrangement, preparation, or formality implicit in the biblical uses.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

usually assigned as a primitive root, but probably only a special application of כָּרָה (through the common idea of planning implied in a bargain); to purchase; buy, prepare.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כרה (k-r-h) — to dig, excavate, prepare, obtain

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3738 כָּרָה digger
H3740 כֵּרָה acquired portion
H3741 כָּרָה to dig
H4379 מִכְרֶה and excavated pit of

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3739-02 וָ/אֶכְּרֶ֣/הָ vaekereha HC/Vqw1cs/Sp3fs So I bought her and I purchased her 1
H3739-03 וַ/יִּכְרֶ֨ה vayikhereh HC/Vqw3ms and he prepared and he purchased 1
H3739-01 תִּכְר֧וּ tikheru HVqi2mp you shall buy you will purchase 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3739-01 Deuteronomy 2:6 תִּכְר֧וּ tikheru HVqi2mp you shall buy you will purchase
H3739-03 2 Kings 6:23 וַ/יִּכְרֶ֨ה vayikhereh HC/Vqw3ms and he prepared and he purchased
H3739-02 Hosea 3:2 וָ/אֶכְּרֶ֣/הָ vaekereha HC/Vqw1cs/Sp3fs So I bought her and I purchased her
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